Breech mechanism for guns.



Patenied Dec. 2, |9'02.

'NIL 7|5,39. G. EHRHARDT.

l,BRlECH MECHANISM FOR (UNS.A

v (Application lnd June 13, 1902.)

(No Model.)

V UNrrnn ASTATES PATENT Cerros.v

' cUs'rAv nnen-AEDT, oFEIsENAcH, GERMANY.

BREEOH MECHANISM Al-"oR G'UNs.

SPECIFICATION forming part' ofy Letters Patent No. 715,039,

dated' December, 2, 1 90 2,

I A Application filed June 413, 1902. Serial No. 111,526. (No model.)

f block-handle being moved at a uniform speedt receives a movement thevelocity of which decreases as 1tapproaches'thelockingposition,so-

that it is pressed with increasing force against .p theguiding-surfaces, the new .mechanism be- .ing provided, moreover, W1th alocking mechanism which prevents an accidental opening of the breech,which often occurs in the mechanisms hitherto used in consequence of theshock caused byl the'discharge of the gun. v

Unlike thebreech mechanisms hitherto used,

` in which the breechblock'must berst unlocked by a short turningmovement and is thenremoved by a suitable pulling action, the mechanismforming the subject of the present invention enables the -breech-blockto be unlocked and withdrawn from the locking position by a singleturning'movenent of the handle..

In the accompanying showsan elevation of the breech mechanism with theblock in closedposition. Fig. 2 is a planyview of the same,while Fig. 3represents themechan'ism invits open position. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 aredetail views of. the handle pordrawings,k Figure l tion.

The closing-block b is arranged at right an- Y gies tothe barrel in thebreech a. The sur- 'ifa'.ce of -the block b more remoteY from theAbarrelzis wedge-shaped and slides in a corresponding;l wedge-shapedrecess or opening d in the breech, Figs. 2 and 3. Near to the'head ofthe block b there is provided a recess or slot e, which is arranged atright angles to the axis of theblock and receive's la lug f, which bymeans of a pin or bolt is pivoted to an arm h of the operating-handle g.The handle g is pivoted at i to an extension of the breech-wall and isso formed, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, that aspace is left .betweenthe handle and the armh thereof,

v groove c and force the breech. When `,by the slide-block f to the paththe width of which space corresponds to the thickness of theextension-wall of thebree'ch.

. In the-breech-opening' there .is provided a recess ,QQ-into which thelugf enters when the block reaches its locking position.

The operationof the mechanism is as lfollows: For locking the breech'thehandle g is turned from the position shown in Fig. 3L

in the direction of the arrow toward thepbarrel, whereuponA thel lug fwill slide in the the block reaches its locking'position, thesliding lugf, which by that time has reached the end of the groeye. Will ass .intothe recess j, so that thaw-eugeblock is automatically locked in closedposiforce against the charge in its locking position. According to thepresent invention an increasingpressure upon the block is exerted, owingto the movement of the handle g beingv transmitted through theangle-armI h, forming, with the handle g, a three-armed lever the armsof which are arranged in such a manner'. that thepath of arc describedis fat all times vertical or arc of the .end of the leverl g' When thehandle g is moved with a uniform speed, the velocity of -the movement ofthe block into the breech gradually decreases toward the end and thepressure exerted by the Wedge-block against the charge and thebreach-wall increases correspondingly. This willbe easily seen from Fig.3, in which the the block b inward. into* tion. It is of greatimportance in such mechanism topress the Wedge-,block with* great extentof travel of the handle g between the points y and ym, divided into tenequal parte, represents thecorresponding extent of travel az' to m10 ofthe block. The lever g h is so az:- ranged or constructed that itspivotvl lies with the slide-blockv f in a parallel to the axis of theblock when the lat- 'ter is ,in its lbcking position, and the prossureof the block against the charge and the breechiwall will increase inlthe decrease in speed of the' forward movement of the wedge. Upon thehandle g being turned back the slide-block f 'isy first drawn out ofengagerwnt with the recess j, whereupon the block is broughtl withincreasing velocity intoy its open position:

line parallel or ralmost proportion with .a sliding Acertained thenature of my said invention and in Whatmanner the same is to beperformed, I declare that `what I claim is- 1. In a gun, the combinationof a gunbreech and a breech block therein, said breech-block being`provided with a. groove,

block in said groove, a. lever pivoted to the gun-breech, and an leverin engagement with said sliding block.

2. In a gun, the combination of a gunbreech having a Wedge-shaped recesstherein, a wedge-shaped breech-block adapted to fit said wedge-shapedrecess in the gun-breech, said breech block being provided with agroove, asliding block in said groove, a lever pivoted tothe gun-breech,an arm on said arm on saidlever in engagement with said sliding block,

and a handle on said lever.

verse'ly in said gun-breech, said breech-block being provided with agroove, a sliding block in said groove, a lever pivoted tothe gunbreech,andan arm on said lever in'engagement with said sliding block. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

- GUSTAV EHRHARDT. Witnesses:

C. 'JOHANNES REUTER,

. WILHELM JUNIUS.

